Catt Sadler gets equal pay support from Debra Messing, Eva Longoria, and more

Like most attendees, Debra Messing wore black to the Golden Globes as a symbol of protest against harassment in Hollywood and in support of gender equality.

When E! host Giuliana Rancic asked Messing why she was wearing black, the Will & Grace star let the network have it. “I am wearing black to thank and honor all of the brave whistleblowers who came forward to share their stories of harassment and assault and discrimination,” Messing began her answer innocently. “Time is up,” she proclaimed, quoting the movement of the same name. “We want diversity, we want intersectional gender parity, we want equal pay.” Things got interesting when she brought up Rancic’s former colleague Catt Sadler.

Debra Messing drags E! (while being interviewed on E!): "I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn't believing in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts" pic.twitter.com/HF3B2uhwtF

“I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts. I mean, I miss Catt Sadler,” she boldly stated. “We stand with her and that’s something that can change tomorrow. We want people to start having this conversation that women are just as valuable as men.”

While the moment was definitely super awkward, Rancic was composed in her response, supporting the Time’s Up message, but did not address the Sadler comment. “Absolutely. I think that, that is really what this movement is all about, right? We have an amazing platform here,” she said. “You know there are a lot of big great voices here tonight who can speak on behalf of people around, not just the country, around the world, who don’t have those voices.”

And Sadler was grateful for Messing’s support. In a statement to BuzzFeed News in response to her remark, Sadler said, “I am immensely grateful for the outpouring of support today. Time’s Up.”

The E! News co-host left the network last month after an almost 10-year tenure. Why the split? She learned co-host Jason Kennedy was making “close to double” her salary.

And Messing isn’t the only one on the carpet standing up for Sadler. Eva Longoria walked the red carpet with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman in solidarity of the Time’s Up movement, and professed her love for Sadler while holding E! accountable in an interview with the network. “We support gender equality and equal pay and we hope E! follows that lead as well, we stand with you Catt” Longoria said. And interviewer Ryan Seacrest joined in on the love fest, echoing, “love Catt, we love her.”

Eva Longoria piles on E!: "We support gender equity and equal pay, and we hope that E! follows that lead with Catt as well. We stand with you, Catt."

Sarah Jessica Parker joined in as well. “This is a conversation that as complicated as it is, it seems to be very welcomed by everybody. I know it’s affected your network,” Parker said to Seacrest. “I know that there have been conversations that have been challenging for all of us, but I think it’s incredibly timely. It’s exciting. And parity and equality and safe work environments, they shouldn’t be controversial.”

Last but not least was Laura Dern. “We need the powers that be and all the industries and all the networks and E! to help us with closing this pay gender gap,” she proclaimed.

And the Sadler support extended beyond the carpet. Amy Schumer posted a photo of Sadler on Instagram earlier today and the caption called out E! “If you’re on the carpet tonight or at home post in support and ask @eentertainment what happened? We thought you would be for pay equality and say #imwithcattsad@iamcattsadler.”